Darrell Echols
Acting Director
National Park Service, Region 2
100 Alabama Street SW
1924 Building
Atlanta, GA 30303
September 9, 2026
Re: Request for Public Hearing Pursuant to 54 U.S.C. § 102901(b)(3) Regarding Proposed Cumberland Island National Seashore Land Exchanges
Dear Acting Regional Director Echols,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our members, we formally request a public hearing regarding the proposed land exchanges at Cumberland Island National Seashore pursuant to 54 U.S.C. § 102901(b)(3).1Nat’l Park Serv., Proposed Land Exchange, Cumberland Island National Seashore, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/cuis/learn/management/proposed-land-exchange.htm On September 9, 2026, the National Park Service (NPS) released an Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluating the proposed voluntary land exchanges and opened a public comment period through October 16, 2026.
Section 102901(b)(3) provides that, “[o]n request of a State or a political subdivision thereof, or of a party in interest, prior to an exchange under this subsection the Secretary shall hold a public hearing in the area where the properties to be exchanged are located.”
The undersigned organizations are “parties in interest” under § 102901(b)(3) based on their members’ regular use and enjoyment of Cumberland Island National Seashore for recreation, wildlife observation, research, and appreciation of natural resources. Our organizations also have longstanding involvement in the conservation and management of the Seashore, including direct participation in NPS’s civic engagement process concerning the proposed land exchanges.2Nat’l Park Serv., U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, CUIS Voluntary Land Exchange Pre-NEPA Process, Planning, Env’t & Pub. Comment (PEPC), https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=124458
We therefore request that NPS hold the required public hearing before consummating any proposed exchange of federal property at Cumberland Island National Seashore.3See Committee of 100 on the Federal City v. Hodel, 777 F.2d 711, 719–20 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (explaining that the hearing requirement was intended to provide an early opportunity for affected persons and communities to express their interests in federal property proposed for exchange); 114 Cong. Rec. 11,010 (1968) (statement of Sen. Morse). exchanges.
Please confirm receipt of this request and advise us of NPS’s plans for holding the hearing.
Sincerely,
Birds Georgia
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for a Sustainable Coast
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Defenders of Wildlife
Environment Georgia
National Parks Conservation Association
Sierra Club
Southern Environmental Law Center
Wild Cumberland
Wilderness Watch
cc: Melissa Trenchik, Superintendent, CUIS, NPS, me**************@*ps.gov